Thousands line local roads for Buddhist relics parade

Thousands of Pattaya’s devout lined the streets in different areas of Pattaya to sprinkle holy water on Buddhist relics from the Sanctuary of Truth during an April 13 Songkran parade through the city.

Over a hundred monks prepare to lead a parade throughout the greater Naklua, Pattaya and Jomtien areas so that people could sprinkle holy water on Buddhist relics from the Sanctuary of Truth. The relics were put on a special float (back, left) to give residents and tourists an opportunity to pour holy water on the relics on Songkran Day.

For most of the year, the relics of Lord Buddha are stored at the top of the Busabok Stupa, which stands in the Sanctuary of Truth’s Central Hall, symbolizing enlightenment. They were presented to the temple in April 2009 by the late Supreme Patriarch of Thailand.

Pattaya, with the Chonburi Monk’s Committee, Chonburi National Office of Buddhism, and Buddhist Association of Chonburi, organized the parade to give residents and tourists an opportunity to pour holy water on the relics on Songkran Day to wish for prosperity and increase one’s glory leading to success according to Buddhism beliefs.

The 40-car parade took a long route throughout the entire Naklua-Pattaya-Jomtien area, stopping at eight water-pouring stops around town.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday April 18, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 16).